May 31 - June 4, 2004

• SECURITY
  • Two Rockets Fired at Sderot
  • Sharon Promises Full Implementation of His Plan by 2005
  • Four Family Members Convicted of Hosting Suicide Bomber
  • Two Rockets-Carrying Terrorists Killed in Gaza
  • Israel Eases Gaza Restrictions
  • IDF Gets New Tunnel-Busting Unit
• DIPLOMACY
  • Minister Shalom to Travel to Egypt Next Week for Cooperation Talks
  • Israel and Ethiopia Strengthen Bilateral Ties
• POLITICS
  • Compromises Sought on Disengagement Plan
  • Disengagement Compromise Plan Talks Underway
  • Sharon Fires National Union Ministers in Bid to Pass Plan
• ECONOMY & HIGH-TECH
  • Exports to Arab Countries on the Rise
• SOCIETY
  • Former Chief Rabbi Supports Civil Marriage in Israel
  • Border Police Suspends Operations for 2 Hours Following Abuse Arrests
  • Third Annual Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem Takes Place Amid Controversy
  • Israelis Read 7.8 Books a Year on Average
• REGIONAL COOPERATION
  • Amman University Wants Israel Branch

 

SECURITY

Two Rockets Fired at Sderot
Tuesday, June 1, 2004
Two kassam missiles were fired at Sderot in the western Negev this morning, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. One of the missiles hit an industrial factory, and the other landed in an open area. Luckily, the missile landed in the factory several minutes before the first workers arrived.
Later today, soldiers apprehended two Hamas members at the Gush Katif crossing in possession of a lathe, used for manufacturing weapons. The two were transferred to security forces for questioning.
Overnight Monday in the West Bank, nine Islamic Jihad members belonging to a Qalkilya-based terror cell were arrested by Israel Defense Forces special forces. The Palestinians were preparing bombs at the time of their arrest, which were found near the security fence and dismantled. A search in their homes also revealed hand grenades and additional bomb-making materials.
An additional three bombs were detonated near IDF soldiers in Nokdim.

Sharon Promises Full Implementation of His Plan by 2005
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee today that he was determined to implement his full disengagement plan by the end of 2005, and that no Israelis would be living in Gaza by then, MA'ARIV reported. He added that, following an Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, the houses in the settlements would be torn down and apartment buildings for Palestinians would be constructed in their place. Sharon also revealed his intent to involve Jordan in his plan to evacuate the four Samaria settlements of Ganim, Kadim, Sanur and Homesh. He said there would be a Jordanian presence in the West Bank, most likely based on the same framework as the planned Egyptian involvement in Gaza.
Meanwhile, according to HA'ARETZ, the U.S. administration notified Israel on Tuesday that President George W. Bush remained committed to the disengagement plan that Sharon presented to him during their April 14 meeting, and not to any of the other scaled-back plans drafted since then.

Four Family Members Convicted of Hosting Suicide Bomber
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
The Acre Magistrate's Court convicted today four members of the Arab-Israeli Bakri family of accommodating the Palestinian suicide bomber who blew himself up aboard a bus at the Meron junction near Safed in August 2002, killing nine people, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The court ruled, however, that the four, all from the village of Bana in the western Galilee, were unaware of the terrorist's intention to carry out a suicide attack. The penalty for accommodating a hostile person is two years imprisonment or a fine.
The judge also convicted three of the four defendants of obstructing the course of justice by coordinating versions after the attack. The court acquitted the four defendants of illegally driving the terrorist to the Meron junction.
Brothers Aziz, Mahmud and Muhammad Bakri and Muhammad's wife Malaki housed the suicide bomber, Jihad Hamada, prior to the bus attack on 4 August 2002 in which nine Israelis were killed and 48 wounded. Two other family members, cousins Ibrahim and Yassin Bakri, were sentenced in April 2003 to nine consecutive life sentences and a further 30 years in prison for assisting the suicide bomber.

Two Rockets-Carrying Terrorists Killed in Gaza
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
Two terrorists armed with an RPG rocket launcher and approaching the Karni-Netzarim road in the Gaza Strip were killed overnight Tuesday, Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL, reported. The IDF said the soldiers spotted the two individuals as they were preparing to launch an RPG rocket at a passing Israeli convoy. The soldiers fired and killed the two men. Weapons, including grenades and RPG rockets, were found near their bodies.
Ten Palestinians were detained Tuesday night in Judea and Samaria in the Ramallah area, east of Kalkilyia and in the Nablus market where an explosive device was thrown at soldiers, injuring no one.

Israel Eases Gaza Restrictions
Thursday, June 3, 2004
In an attempt to ease restrictions imposed on the Palestinians and boost humanitarian assistance, Israel reopened the Erez industrial zone and the Karni crossing this week, enabling a steady flow of trucks containing food, medication, and building materials to enter Gaza, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Security officials noted that both sites were opened despite the ongoing threats of terrorist organizations to target both areas. On Sunday, hundreds of Palestinian laborers from Gaza entered the Erez industrial site to work, and the following day 65 truckloads of food and 154 gas canisters were transferred via the Karni crossing into the Gaza Strip. In addition Israel has also allowed 10,000 Palestinian merchants and businessmen and 9,000 laborers from Judea and Samaria to enter Israel to work, along with 500 merchants from the Gaza Strip.
In the past an average of between 700 to 800 trucks transferred goods into Gaza and to Israel each day. Officials noted that the suicide bombers who blew up in the Ashdod Port in March this year hid behind a false wall built inside a container that passed through the Karni crossing into Israel, and in April and May this year two explosive belts were found by Israeli security guards checking the containers coming out of Gaza.

IDF Gets New Tunnel-Busting Unit
Friday, June 4, 2004
The IDF has decided to set up a tunnel-busting unit that will operate in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The unit will operate in the West Bank to locate secret underground storerooms where terrorists hide weapons. The unit would likely be used to locate any potential tunnels dug under the security fence being erected around the West Bank. Southern Command had a small tunnel-busting unit, but it was decimated last month when the Armored Personal Carrier transporting its 5 members was blown up by terrorists in Gaza. The head of the unit, Aviv Hakani, who was killed in the blast, had created a small, informally assembled force that registered relative success by uncovering at least 15 tunnels this year.

 

DIPLOMACY

Minister Shalom to Travel to Egypt Next Week for Cooperation Talks
Tuesday, June 1, 2004
As Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak reiterated on Monday his support for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom announced he would be traveling to Cairo next week to discuss the convening of a bilateral committee aimed at improving relations between Israel and Egypt, the JERUSALEM POST reported. Under discussion is Egypt's role following an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. A proposed cooperation plan includes Egyptian training of Palestinian security forces ahead of the combining of these forces into one unified unit under the control of the Palestinian prime minister. Shalom allegedly discussed a similar model with King Abdullah, whereby Jordanian forces would prepare Palestinian forces in the West Bank ahead of a possible Israeli withdrawal in the area.
Mubarak has stressed his country's willingness to assist in the implementation of the plan. Egyptian officials said Monday that some 150 Egyptian security officers are to be dispatched to Gaza next month to work out plans for the training and rehabilitation of the PA security forces. The officials said the officers would train some 30,000 policemen who will take over Gaza if Israel withdraws. In addition to the officers, the officials said Egypt would send equipment and build new police stations and jails.

Israel and Ethiopia Strengthen Bilateral Ties
Thursday, June 3, 2004
Israel and Ethiopia signed Wednesday a series of agreements aimed at boosting trade and other elements of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL, reported. The signing came as Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is on a three-day visit to Israel - the first official trip by an Ethiopian head of state in the country. Zenawi visited Wednesday morning the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and later laid a wreath at the grave of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on Mt. Herzl. In the afternoon he met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom and the head of the opposition, Shimon Peres.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon welcomed the Ethiopian premier Tuesday morning at an official ceremony at the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem. Zenawi expressed hope that his visit would further strengthen the warm bilateral ties between Israel and Ethiopia.

 

POLITICS

Compromises Sought on Disengagement Plan
Tuesday, June 1, 2004
Minister of Justice Yosef Lapid and Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu were to hold a meeting today to discuss a compromise proposal under which Netanyahu would support the Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's revised disengagement plan, Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL, reported. Speaking in Haifa on Monday night, Netanyahu promised to do all he could to reach a compromise and keep the current government coalition intact. Sources in the Likud hinted that if a compromise were reached between Netanyahu and Sharon, objecting party members would support the plan in order to maintain party unity. In a meeting today with President Mosheh Katzav, Sharon reiterated his determination to push forward with the entire plan, noting that it had been broken into four parts - each one requiring a separate favorable vote. At the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting Monday, Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz said Israelis evacuated from Gaza settlements could live in Judea and Samaria.

Disengagement Compromise Plan Talks Underway
Thursday, June 3, 2004
Progress has allegedly been made in negotiations aimed at working out a compromise formula allowing all Likud ministers to support Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan, HA'ARETZ reported. The compromise plan was introduced by Minister of Absorption Tzipi Livni who met today with Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Education Limor Livnat and Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom in Tel Aviv. Following the meeting, Livni was reportedly on her way to hold talks with the prime minister regarding the new deal struck by the four ministers.
Under the terms of Livni's proposal, the government would vote Sunday on the full disengagement plan, but a separate government vote would be required before any settlement is evacuated. Sharon needs to secure the vote of one more minister ahead of the cabinet vote this coming Sunday. At present, 11 of the 23 ministers back the initiative for a total withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and an evacuation of four West Bank settlements, and 12 are against.

Sharon Fires National Union Ministers in Bid to Pass Plan
Friday, June 4, 2004
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon fired National Union ministers Avigdor Lieberman and Benny Elon this morning in an attempt to obtain the necessary support on the vote by the cabinet Sunday on the revised disengagement plan, HA'ARETZ reported. Couriers were sent to hand-deliver the dismissal letters to the ministers after they failed to show up at the Prime Minister's Office at 9 A.M. as summoned. The dismissals take effect 48 hours after Lieberman and Elon receive them.
"I didn't ignore all sorts of attempts and compromises, but there were some things I couldn't give in to, and I didn't," Sharon said. "I need a majority on Sunday, and when I found out that this threesome [Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom and Minister of Education Limor Livnat] was going to vote against me, I invited the National Union ministers for tomorrow in order to fire them." Without Lieberman and Elon, the plan has 10 likely opponents in the cabinet (eight from the Likud - including Netanyahu, Shalom and Livnat - and two from the National Religious Party), and 11 supporters (six from the Likud and five from Shinui). Negotiations within the Likud aimed at reaching a compromise based on a proposal by Minister of Immigrant Absorption Tzipi Livni stalled Thursday evening.

 

ECONOMY & HIGH-TECH

Exports to Arab Countries on the Rise
Friday, June 4, 2004
Israel has a new trading partner, Iraq, where the U.S. army stationed in the country purchased some $2 million worth of Israeli defense and consumer goods in the first quarter of 2004, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Based on a quarterly survey by the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute, exports to Arab countries rose 78 percent in the first quarter to $38 million. Some $3 million worth of exports were also made to Arab states, through third-party companies, usually in Europe. As in past years, Jordan and Egypt dominated the list of neighbors trading with Israel. Most of the increase was in exports to Jordan and Egypt. Imports from Arab states rose 37 percent in the first quarter to $21 million.

 

SOCIETY

Former Chief Rabbi Supports Civil Marriage in Israel
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
Former chief Sephardi rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi Doron called Tuesday for the "annulment of the Orthodox monopoly on marriage in Israel" and "free choice" in choosing a form of marriage, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Bakshi Doron was speaking at a convention of Tzohar, an organization of young religious Zionist rabbis. Participants described his words as "a bombshell."
Minister of Interior Avraham Poraz (Shinui) welcomed the rabbi's words, saying he was currently working with other coalition members - including National Religious Party representatives - on drafting laws that would provide solutions for people who could not legally marry in Israel under present circumstances. "It is ironic," Poraz said, "that the state can recognize a wedding that took place overseas in a non-Orthodox context, but not one that takes place in Israel in a Reform synagogue."
Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yonna Metzger said today he rejected the idea since it would eventually create a two-stream Jewish nation, in which one stream would not be able to marry the other.

Border Police Suspends Operations for 2 Hours Following Abuse Arrests
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
Border police commander David Tzur ordered today a two-hour suspension of activity in all border police units, to review procedures on how to treat Palestinians and guarantee that human rights be honored in the West Bank and Gaza, Israel Radio, KOL YISRAEL reported. The decision to conduct a review comes as nine additional border policemen are detained on suspicion of harassing Palestinians and taking their money. Three border policemen were arrested Tuesday for allegedly abusing and humiliating two 17 year-old Palestinians about a month ago.

Third Annual Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem Takes Place Amid Controversy
Friday, June 4, 2004
Some 3,000 people attended the third annual Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem on Thursday evening, HA'ARETZ reported. The parade set out from the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall, and ended with a happening and party at the Liberty Bell Park. Dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews held two demonstrations over the past week in protest of the planned event, and a convention of some 150 ultra-Orthodox rabbis was held in Jerusalem's Sabbath Square, not far from the route of the Gay Pride parade.
Two bodyguards were hired Thursday to accompany Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski after security officials received intelligence information indicating that factions in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community were planning to harm him. Two far-right activists were arrested after they threw eggs at individuals taking part in the parade.
At the same time, Hagai Elad, director of Open House, the organization holding the parade, accused Lupolianski of deliberately attempting to sabotage the event, claiming that the city had placed bureaucratic obstacles in its way, tried to withhold approval for the event and failed to hang the Gay Pride banners along the route of the march, as it had promised. Elad also noted that the city had not yet paid Open House its share - some NIS 125,000 - in financing the previous parade.

Israelis Read 7.8 Books a Year on Average
Friday, June 4, 2004
The average Israeli reads 7.8 books a year, and three out of four Israelis claim to have read at least one book in the past year, according to a special survey conducted by the Cities Mall in Kfar Saba ahead of the Hebrew Book Week, GLOBES reported. The survey found that only 47 percent of African and Asian-born Israelis claims to have a read a book in the past year, compared with 75-82 percent of the people born in Israel. Seventy six percent of secular Israelis and 80 percent of very observant Israelis read books, compared with 63 percent of moderately observant Israelis. Women read more than men, with 76 percent of women saying they a book in the past year, compared with 72 percent of men. The Cities Mall will mark Hebrew Book Week this year with a huge fair with 150 publishers.

 

REGIONAL COOPERATION

Amman University Wants Israel Branch
Tuesday, June 1, 2004
Representatives of Jordan's Al-Ahliyya Amman University met with Minister of Education Limor Livnat on Monday for talks on opening an extension of the institute of higher learning in Israel, HA'ARETZ reported. Maher Hurani, the university's director and owner, told Livnat that he was determined to establish ties with Israel despite threats and opposition voiced against the move by elements in the Arab world and Jordan.
"I am happy about the request and see it as a boost to the spirit of peace and a national interest," Livnat said after the meeting. A number of possible initial sites for the extension have already been examined. Under the plans in the works, the buildings will be leased for three years, during which time the new university's campus will be built. The university is expected to serve primarily the Arab sector but Hurani said he would also like to see Jewish and Arab students from other countries in the region at the institute. Al-Ahliyya Amman university was established in 1990 and is Jordan's first private university. The university has some 7000 students from Syria, Iraq the United States, Japan and Israel.

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